SACRAMENTO METROPOLITAN
CABLE TELEVISION COMMISSION

I. STRUCTURE

The Sacramento Metropolitan Cable Television Commission (Commission) is a joint powers agency representing seven member jurisdictions: the County of Sacramento, the cities of Sacramento, Citrus Heights, Elk Grove, Rancho Cordova, Folsom, and Galt. The power and authority of the Commission is vested with a Board of Directors which currently consists of eleven Board members:

Five members of the Commission Board are members of the County Board of Supervisors:

• Supervisor Don Nottoli (District 5)
• Supervisor Jimmie Yee (District 2)
• Supervisor Roger Dickinson (District 1)
• Supervisor Susan Peters (District 3)
• Supervisor Roberta MacGlashan (District 4)

Three members of the Commission Board are members of the Sacramento City Council:

• Council Member Robbie Waters (District 7)
• Council Member Sandy Sheedy (District 2)
• Council Member Kevin McCarty (District 6)

One member of the Commission Board is an appointed representative for the Citrus Heights City Council:

• Council Member Steve Miller

One member of the Commission Board is an appointed representative for the Elk Grove City Council:

• Council Member Steven Detrick

One member of the Commission Board is an appointed representative for the Rancho Cordova, Folsom and Galt City Councils:

• Folsom City Council Member Andy Morin
  • (Ex-Officio Member, Rancho Cordova City Council Member Robert McGarvey)

The Board of Directors of the Commission meets regularly in public sessions and approves all policy matters by Resolution. The activities of the Commission are governed by the Cable Television Franchise Ordinance, Cable Television License Ordinance, and the Cable Franchise Resolution, as well as applicable state and federal laws.

II. PURPOSE

The Commission exists to:

1. Administer cable television franchise and licenses in Sacramento County;
2. Assist consumers in resolving their cable and non-cable video concerns;
3. Monitor community programming and grantee funding;
4. Operate Metro Cable 14, the local government cable channel.

A. Administer cable television franchise and licenses in Sacramento County. The Commission's policy is to encourage competition and thus, provide choice for consumers. Since 1987, the Commission has issued many licenses in addition to the initial cable franchise. Currently, there are three cable television operators in the Sacramento County region:

B. Assist consumers in resolving their cable and non-cable video concerns. The Commission staff will provide information and file a complaint on your behalf, regarding matters you were unable to get resolved with the cable company after reasonable attempts have been made.

C. Monitor community programming Channel Licensees. The Commission provides funding support and/or cable channels for five community organizations. There are seven community channels available on the local cable systems. These channels are operated by independent organizations, each of which has their own Board of Directors which develop and implement policy for use of the funds and program content (Metro Cable 14 is operated by the Cable Commission). For more information, below are the links to the community channels:

D. Operate Metro Cable 14, the local government cable channel. Metro Cable videotapes local Sacramento County government meetings for Sacramento residents.

III. PERSONNEL

The Executive Director of the Commission serves part-time at the pleasure of the Commission. The Executive Director oversees the hiring of the remaining staff, which consists of five permanent full-time staff positions – an Administrative Services Officer, a Sr. Office Assistant, a Production Director, a Program Coordinator, and a Technical Coordinator, as well as part-time Production Assistants.

IV. FISCAL RESOURCES

The Commission is financed by a percentage of the gross revenues of the cable television companies operating in Sacramento. The Commission's Operating Budget funds Metro Cable 14, the local government channel on the cable system and supports six other community-programming channels. The balance of the gross revenues minus operational costs is distributed annual to the General Funds of the County of Sacramento and Cities of Sacramento, Citrus Heights, Elk Grove, Folsom, Galt, and Rancho Cordova based on population.

V. ACTIVITIES

A. Collection and Annual Distribution of Franchise Fee Revenue to Member Agencies.

B. Complaint Resolution. Upon request by a subscriber, the staff of the Commission will investigate complaints regarding construction, installation, and billing and work with the cable company toward resolution. Complaint advice is available to subscribers of non-cable television video providers, including satellite, master antenna, and direct broadcast. Consumer Support staff can also be reached Monday-Friday at 874-6662 and via e-mail through our web page at Cable TV Complaints.

C. Government Programming. On behalf of the member jurisdictions, the Commission operates a cable television channel on the cable system called Metro Cable 14. Currently, Metro Cable 14 cablecasts the regular weekly meetings of the Sacramento County Board of Supervisors, the Sacramento City Council, and the bi-weekly meetings of the City Councils of Citrus Heights, Elk Grove, Folsom, Galt, and Rancho Cordova. In addition, bulletin board messages about government services and informational programs are cablecast weekly. Other meetings cablecast include SMUD, Sacramento Area Flood Control Agency, Sacramento Transportation Authority, Sacramento City Unified School District, LAFCo, Sacramento Public Library, North Highlands Park and Recreational District, and the Environmental Commission. More information is available at Metro Cable Meetings.

D. Collection of PEG Fee Revenue. The revenue funds PEG facilities and equipment projects for Metro Cable, member agencies and channel licensees.

COMMISSION PUBLIC MEETING SCHEDULE

The Commission meetings are regularly scheduled on the first Thursday of each month and are open to the public. An agenda of the meeting is posted under Cable Commission Meetings on this website.

Below is the tentative meeting schedule. Unless otherwise noted, the meetings are scheduled at 2:30 p.m. at 700 H Street, Room 1450 (Sacramento County Board of Supervisors’ Chambers).